Fulton, NY rainwater: 37,801 gallons off a roof
Fulton, NY: gallons off the roof each year
37,801gallons a year
That is a 1,500 sq ft asphalt roof under Fulton, NY's normal 47.6 inches of rain, about 795 gallons for every inch that falls.
In Fulton, NY a single barrel does most of the work. Storms come often enough that a small tank refills before it runs dry, and a bigger one would mostly sit full.
Rainfall: NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals, the Fulton 0.2 W station (0.2 mi away). Fulton, NY ranks 39th wettest of the 90 cities covered in New York.
Month by month in Fulton
| Month | Rain (in) | Off the roof (gal) | Garden shortfall (gal) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 3.74 | 2,973 | |
| Feb | 3.38 | 2,686 | |
| Mar | 3.44 | 2,734 | |
| Apr | 4.02 | 3,195 | 41 |
| May | 3.95 | 3,139 | 50 |
| Jun | 4.03 | 3,203 | 40 |
| Jul | 3.90 | 3,100 | 56 |
| Aug | 3.80 | 3,020 | 69 |
| Sep | 3.94 | 3,132 | 51 |
| Oct | 4.68 | 3,720 | |
| Nov | 4.19 | 3,330 | |
| Dec | 4.49 | 3,569 |
Oct is the wettest month (4.68 in, 3,720 gal off the roof); Feb the driest (3.38 in). Garden shortfall is what a 200 sq ft vegetable bed needs beyond the rain that lands on it, April to October.
Which tank size is worth it in Fulton
Best fit: one 55-gallon barrel, which delivers about 220 gallons to the garden in a normal year (71.7% of its need).
Before you buy, a 55-gallon barrel with a downspout diverter is the whole job. Check that the overflow points away from your foundation, because most of Fulton's roof water will pass straight through it.
| Tank | Water used (gal/yr) | Spills over (gal/yr) |
|---|---|---|
| 55 gal | 220 | 35,871 |
| 110 gal | 220 | 35,871 |
| 165 gal | 220 | 35,871 |
| 275 gal | 220 | 35,871 |
| 550 gal | 220 | 35,871 |
| 1,000 gal | 220 | 35,871 |
| 1,500 gal | 220 | 35,871 |
| 2,500 gal | 220 | 35,871 |
| 5,000 gal | 220 | 35,871 |
Simulated storm by storm through a normal year using the station's count of days with 0.1 in or more of rain each month.
Is rainwater collection legal in New York?
No statewide rainwater harvesting regulations; check county for local incentives
From the 2015 (Pacific Northwest National Laboratory report 24347); not yet re-checked against current law, so check with your state water agency before building anything large. Source